GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A group of real estate professionals have come together to create a service that is giving back to those who serve the public in the Grand Rapids area.

"U Deserve" has brought together several professionals who are dedicated to lowering costs associated with buying, selling or refinancing a home for active military members, veterans, firefighters, police officers, EMS providers, health care professionals and educators.

“Growing up with a father who served in the National Guard and as a police officer, I was able to see first-hand how much public service individuals give back to their communities,” said Kevin Wildman, founder of U Deserve. “U Deserve is a way of saying ‘thank you’ to those individuals.”

The Meijer Simply Give program – held three times a year – generated nearly $6 million in 2014 for food pantries throughout the Midwest, bringing the program’s overall donation total to nearly $14 million since it began in November 2008.

The retailer’s most recent campaign, which ended in January, was the most successful holiday campaign in the program’s history, resulting in a total of more than $1.8 million for hungry families.

WYOMING, Mich.—West Michigan businesses are on the hunt for hundreds of new workers.

More than two dozen companies will be represented during a job fair hosted by Kentwood Community Church. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.14 on the church’s Wyoming campus, at 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW. Altogether, the businesses are recruiting for more than 500 jobs in sales, retail, customer service, health care, auto tech, manufacturing, truck driving, marketing, skilled industrial trades, food service and other fields.

This is the seventh job fair Kentwood Community Church has hosted at its Wyoming Campus, which opened Oct. 6, 2013 in the former Wyoming Adult & Community Education building. Kentwood purchased the property from Wyoming Public Schools.

For additional job fair information, visit the event website or call the church at (616) 827-3267.

LANSING, Mich. – Making fruits and vegetables more readily available, cancer screenings by mail, health coaches and exercise programs are just several of the local initiatives getting funding from the Michigan Department of Community Health.

The MDCH recently announced 44 projects are getting approximately $1.34 million, including a dozen projects in West Michigan. The grants include:

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division are sharing their top tips to stay safe in this extreme cold.

"As we saw last winter, these arctic blasts can create hazardous situations," said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. "Citizens are encouraged to monitor local weather reports and follow the appropriate steps to stay safe during these extremely cold and potentially life-threatening temperatures."

Exposure to these subzero temperatures could potentially cause frostbite and hypothermia, as well as create hazardous driving conditions.

WYOMING, Mich.—West Michigan businesses are on the hunt for hundreds of new workers.

More than two dozen companies will be represented during a job fair hosted by Kentwood Community Church. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.14 on the church’s Wyoming campus, at 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW. Altogether, the businesses are recruiting for more than 500 jobs in sales, retail, customer service, health care, auto tech, manufacturing, truck driving, marketing, skilled industrial trades, food service and other fields.

This is the seventh job fair Kentwood Community Church has hosted at its Wyoming Campus, which opened Oct. 6, 2013 in the former Wyoming Adult & Community Education building. Kentwood purchased the property from Wyoming Public Schools.

For additional job fair information, visit the event website or call the church at (616) 827-3267.